Bena achieves place on Hartpury College’s sporting excellence diploma

Congratulations to Bena Slack, in Year 12, who is studying for a diploma in equine sporting excellence at Hartpury College alongside her A-levels at Richmond Sixth Form College.  Bena is delighted to have been accepted on the two-year diploma which covers the three disciplines of eventing – cross country, dressage and show jumping. Bena has chosen to specialise in show jumping as this is her area of expertise.

Bena will study at the college during school holidays and over several weekends throughout the two-year programme and has already attended her induction weekend.  Bena has been allocated a mentor for two years who will track her riding skills and support her in aspects such as training and nutrition.

Bena said: “I am over the moon, as being a fully-funded the course is very popular and highly competitive to get a place.  Show jumping and horses are my passions so this will give me invaluable experience in the world of all things equine. I am studying A-levels in Business, Economics and Psychology and my long-term ambition is to have my own competition yard. Hartpury is a college and university so I am considering doing a degree there after my A-levels.”

Bena has been riding as long as she can remember. She had her own pony when she was five and started competing at seven years old and has been show jumping since she was eleven. She was a member of the Zetland Hunt Pony Club for eight years.

More recently, Bena has been competing in up to 120cm show jumping events. She travels throughout the UK to take part in competitions on her two horses, Valentino, a 16.1 hh Irish Sports Horse, and Artfull, a 17 hh  Warm Blood.

For any students who have an interest in equine studies or the diploma in sporting excellence, further information about Hartpury University and College is available HERE.  Hartpury is well known for being a specialist education provider in agriculture, animal, equine, sport and veterinary nursing.

We wish Bena every success in her diploma and look forward to reporting on her show jumping competitions.